Hawks' Locklear arrested, jailed

Police probe alleged assault on girlfriend

Published 10:00 pm, Monday, January 16, 2006

Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Sean Locklear was in jail Monday for investigation of assault after his girlfriend told police he grabbed her around the neck outside a Belltown bar, police said.

Locklear was booked into the King County Jail early Sunday and was being held without bail until a court hearing that was expected to take place in Seattle Municipal Court today.

Locklear, 24, was arrested after midnight on Sunday morning, hours after Seattle's 20-10 NFC playoff victory over Washington. He remained jailed Monday when the team watched film but didn't practice.

Players are off today, and Locklear is expected back Wednesday when the team has its first full practice in preparation for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers at Qwest Field.

Locklear has started every game this season. Coach Mike Holmgren was asked if Locklear's arrest would affect his status for Sunday.

"I have to wait for details on that," Holmgren said. "I'm aware of the situation, but I don't know the details yet. So right now, I have no comment other than to say as soon as we get some definitive answers, (we'll announce) something."

Any penalties Locklear would face from the NFL in the form of suspension or fines would be assessed after the resolution of the case.

The victim in the police report identified Locklear as her live-in boyfriend. She told police she was with him and some friends at Belltown Billiards early Sunday when he saw her dancing with another man and became angry, according to a police report.

She told officers Locklear confronted her as they went outside, but he grew angrier and grabbed her around the neck when she tried to tell him she'd done nothing wrong.

She then started crying and stopped cooperating with officers, repeatedly telling them Locklear "didn't do anything." When asked if there'd been violence between them before, she told them, "he's not usually like this."

Police say the woman's neck was red and a handprint was visible on her chest, though she declined to let officers photograph the apparent injuries for evidence.

Three witnesses told police they heard the couple arguing and saw Locklear use both hands to grab the woman around the neck and shove her back into a doorway.

"The witnesses saw the assault, and the victim had some marks on her consistent with what they saw," Seattle Police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said. "This is a fairly clear-cut case of misdemeanor assault."

Locklear acknowledged he and the woman had been arguing but said he grabbed her by the shirt, not the neck, according to the report.

The law firm representing him, Fox Bowman Duarte, said in a written statement it was investigating the case and would not comment.

"Mr. Locklear has been cooperating fully with this investigation and throughout this case remains entitled to the presumption of innocence afforded to all citizens," attorney Jon Fox wrote.

Locklear, who went to college at North Carolina State University, has no apparent criminal history in the Seattle area. He had a speeding ticket in Raleigh, N.C., almost two years ago, according to Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue.

Holmgren was asked if he thought Locklear's situation would be a distraction for the team.

"Not really," Holmgren said. "From what I know about it so far -- again I don't know everything -- it should not be."

Running back Shaun Alexander said he knew about Locklear's situation, but that it would not be a distraction. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was asked about it as well.

"It's really unfortunate," Hasselbeck said. "But this team has pulled together all year long, and I would expect us to do the same.

"Coach Holmgren is always talking to us about making good decisions on and off the football field. You have a lot of guys in that locker room, and I would say that 99 percent of the time we all listen. And then sometimes you've got to learn the hard way."